Court sacks David Mark-led ADC leadership, nullifies Atiku’s 2027 presidential candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidated all decisions taken by the disputed leadership.

The ruling effectively nullifies the primary election that produced Atiku as the ADC presidential candidate, as well as other nominations made by the caretaker committee ahead of the 2027 elections.

Atiku had already been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC candidate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election. He had also announced former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the legitimacy of the process through which Mark and other party officials assumed leadership.

Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the ADC.

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He further contended that the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary violated the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the plaintiff sought an order invalidating the activities and decisions of the Mark-led caretaker committee.

He also asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought, thereby invalidating the actions of the disputed leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment has thrown the ADC’s political leadership and its preparations for the 2027 elections into uncertainty, particularly following Atiku’s emergence as its presidential flagbearer and the selection of Amaechi as his running mate.

However, the party has rejected the ruling and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.

The ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the proceedings as an interested party, confirmed that the party would appeal the judgment.

The appeal is expected to determine the next phase of the leadership dispute and the fate of the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.